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Staff Favorites - Carlo Delgado
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Reviews
2022 Chateau Gigognan "Bois des Moines" Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc
Review Date: 12-17-2024
When a Rhone Blanc is really good, I can't stop drinking it. This is one of those wines. Lovely aromas and flavors of ripe lemons, quince, soft apricots, fresh ginger, chamomile, barley tea, and chalk. Plush on the palate, ample acidity, and a long smoky finish. Perfect with poultry and salads. A refreshing alternative to the usual white wines in constant rotation. Cheers!
2018 Eden Rift "Estate" Cienega Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 12-01-2024
Initial nose of Crème Brûlée, bruised yellow ginger, chamomile lemon tea, fresh laurel. On the palate, lemon rind, pink grapefruit, yellow pear, yellow apple, and a touch of white mushrooms. I love a well-aged Chardonnay like this one, showcasing layers of complexity, a kaleidoscope of flavors. My co-worker and I kept finding something new with every glass. Cheers!
2019 Château Gigognan "Clos du Roi" Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Review Date: 11-24-2024
This is about how good it's going to get for a Chateauneuf Du Pape at this price range. Spicy red berries, savory dried herbs, a touch of leather, hint of roasted meat, and a nice minerality. Elevated and vibrant on the palate, and a persistent finish. Cheers!
2015 Maxville Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 11-19-2024
Aromas of black plums, a touch of blueberry, mocha dust, nutmeg, dark coffee beans, and toasted pecans. Leather, espresso, earth, and a touch of menthol, and charcoal on the finish. A great bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, showing development from the bottle age, at an insane value. Cheers!
Price:
Hidden
2020 Guarachi "G" Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 10-31-2024
First whiff, deep plums, fresh ripe blackberries, shaved dark chocolate, cedar, roasted almonds, dark coffee, and cigar leaf. On the palate, juicy, intense, structured, with a touch of espresso on the powerful, spicy finish. The addition of Malbec, and it's signature dark fruit character really shines on this wine.
2022 Domaine Verzier "Empreinte" St-Joseph
Review Date: 10-22-2024
Wines like these reminds me that when it comes to Syrah, Northern Rhone is still king. Powerful aromas and flavors of spicy dark berries, black peppers, savory notes like paprika, cured meat, a touch of pastrami. A classic example of how distinctive St Joseph can be.
2022 Patricia Green "Freedom Hill Vineyard" Mt. Pisgah Pinot Noir
Review Date: 10-17-2024
After sampling numerous outstanding wines from the acclaimed 2022 vintage, I’ve realized that now is the perfect time to explore more wines from the Willamette Valley. There are always excellent values to be found, such as this single vineyard Pinot Noir from the renowned Freedom Hill Vineyard. Savory on the nose, with a blend of fresh and dried herbs, a touch of paprika, kirsch, and leather. Quite fresh on the palate, with flavors of wild strawberries, bright pomegranate, hibiscus tea, sassafras, red apple skin, and a nice, lingering, slightly smoky finish. A stellar representation of the vintage!
2022 Domaine Benedetti "Statera" Cinsault Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Review Date: 10-11-2024
What a delightful bottle of wine. Aromas of pomegranate, wild strawberries, hibiscus, basil leaves, rose hip tea, and a touch of lavender on the finish. Fresh, bright, and quite precise on the palate. An unique bottling of Chateauneuf du Pape, being 100% Cinsault.
2020 Château Gigognan Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Signargues
Review Date: 10-11-2024
Cote du Rhone is always one of the first wine regions that pops into my head when I am looking for quality, well valued wines. The "Signargues" from Château Gigognan is a prime example of this, kicking way above it's price range. Leaning towards the darker fruits, with notes of boysenberries, black plums, violets, a touch of iodine and minerality. On the palate, the wine is juicy, ample, with savory dried herbs on the finish. Cheers!
2021 PROJECT M "Momtazi Vineyard" McMinnville Pinot Noir
Review Date: 09-19-2024
The "Momtazi Vineyard" is a biodynamically farmed vineyard located in McMinnville, a cool site heavily influenced by the Van Duzer Corridor, grown on a thin layer of volcanic soil. Flavors of dark berries, black plums, savory dried herbs, violet, and a touch of tar. Quite juicy on the palate, with a spicy long finish.
2019 Stolpman "Estate - So Hot" Ballard Canyon Syrah
Review Date: 08-29-2024
Stolpman is one of my favorite wineries in California for multiple reasons. Beautiful views from their vineyards in Ballard Canyon, their 'La Cuadrilla' bottling with profits going straight to their hardworking employees, the most down to earth people (Pete & Ruben) running the show, and delicious wines without any sense of pretense. Pretty nose of dark plums, dark berries, cracked black pepper, fresh basil, and savory dried herbs. Light, fresh on the palate, with a refreshing finish. No added sulfites, whole cluster fermentation, neutral oak, and ready to go in the fridge for a delicious chillable red!
2021 Sandhi Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay
Review Date: 08-20-2024
On the nose ripe yellow orchards, bruised apricot, ginger tea, smoke, flint, and quality matcha. Lively acidity on the palate, with refreshing flavors of quince, lemon juice, and a long juicy finish. Majority of the grapes are sourced from the famous Domaine de la Côte, fermented in separate barrels, each developing their own distinct characteristics, then blended by the team (Raj, Sashi, DJ) to create a unique, yet authentic expression of Sta. Rita Hills. Sandhi has been consistently producing quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and their wines are only getting better.
2022 Château du Perry Malbec Cahors
Review Date: 08-15-2024
While Argentina currently champions the Malbec varietal, it is no secret that Cahors France is it's true origin. Here it shows lighter, crunchy red fruits, savory dried herbs, black peppercorns, a touch of earth, and a long spicy finish. A great introduction to the category, as it demonstrates the characteristics of Malbec from Cahors, while being a delicious, crowd-pleasing wine, at an entry level price point.
2023 Alpha Estate "Turtles Vineyard" Malagouzia Florina Greece
Review Date: 08-13-2024
Floral tones on the nose, with flavors of fresh ginger, chamomile, earl grey, honeydew melon, lemon rind, and a touch of lychee. Lively, with ample acidity, maintaining it's freshness, and a long smoky finish. A great example of Malagouzia, an aromatic varietal that was once nearly extinct.
2022 Ridge Vineyards "Geyserville" Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Review Date: 08-13-2024
Ridge continuously produces some of the most well-balanced Zinfandel dominant blends. Quality fruit, slight modifications in the blend to match the vintage, and juice matured in different types American oak of varying ages are just some of the key factors Ridge's quality and consistency. This vintage of 'Geyserville' showcases explosive aromas of ripe blackberries, dark plums, bramble, laurel, rosemary, dark roasted coffee beans, peppercorn, and earth. Expansive on the palate, matured black fruits, red berries, with spicy dried herbs, and dark chocolate on the finish. This would elevate any BBQ dish, will gain more complexity with bottle age, but it is also ready and absolutely delicious now.
Maison Laudacius "Laudacius" Brut Nature Montlouis Methode Traditionnnelle
Review Date: 08-04-2024
Slices of fresh golden apples, ripe Asian pears, juicy quince, touch of yellow mangos, hint of pineapples, and salted biscuits. Super refreshing, lively acidity, bone dry, with a chalky-saline finish. Crushable, crowd pleasing, and budget friendly. The perfect sparkly to keep multiple bottles of in the fridge!
2021 Alpha Estate "Hedgehog Vineyard" Xinomavro Amyndeon Greece
Review Date: 08-04-2024
Notes of cherry compote, pomegranate, hibiscus, black tea, dried rose petals, hint of potting soil. Juicy, savory, earthy, and spicy on the palate. This single vineyard 'Hedgehog' bottling by Alpha Estate is the perfect introduction to Xinomavro, Northern Greece's signature red varietal.
2018 Domaine Camus Père et Fils Mazy-Chambertin Grand Cru
Review Date: 07-12-2024
This bottling from Camus is performing exceptionally, at a very competitive price compared to its 'Grand Cru' contemporaries. Pretty aromas of purple plums, cassis, dark chocolate shavings, a touch of black olive. On the palate, delicate, soft, with a lengthy, spicy finish.
Price:
$119.99
2022 Domaine Alain et Cyril Gautheron Chablis Vieilles Vignes
Review Date: 07-12-2024
I am very excited about the wines of Alain Gautheron. Across the board, excellent wines of quality, typicity, and value. This 'Vieilles Vignes' showcases classic Chablis flavors of saline, seashell, and yellow orchards. Delicious wine that punches way above it's price.
2021 Beau Vigne "Cult" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 07-07-2024
There are always deals to be found in Napa Valley, if one knows where to look. Our domestic wine buyer does such a great job at hunting those down, you can just find them here. Primary flavors of dark plums, juicy blackberries, black currant, mocha dust, chocolate, roasted coffee beans, hazelnut, and a touch of menthol. Well balanced between the black fruits, acidity, and subtle oak. Great on its own, would pair nicely with a steak.
2021 Domaine Dagueneau "Cuvée XXI" Pouilly-Fumé
Review Date: 06-19-2024
If you are reading this, chances are you're already familiar with the iconic wines of Didier Dagueneau. If you’re not, let me tell you that Dagueneau produces some of the most distinctive, age-worthy, complex white wines coming out of the Loire. Didier Dagueneau, who raced motorcycles, and dogsleds in his youth, was always pushing boundaries. In 1982 he produced one of the first single-parcel wine (“En Chailloux”) of Loire. Today his legacy lives on with his son Louis Benjamin as the current winemaker. The “XXI” is a blend of their best parcels, the only wine Dagueneau released in 2021. What you get is a unique Sauvignon Blanc experience. Clean, subtle flavors of wet flint, orchards, lemon rind, and chalk. One to decant as it reveals it's layers with air.
2018 Walson Holland "Melange Rouge" Central Coast Proprietary Red
Review Date: 06-02-2024
This Rhone blend, showcases developed flavors of black peppercorn, pastrami, paprika, leather, mocha dust, ripe plums, dark cherries, ash, and iodine salinity on the nice spicy finish. On the palate, the Viognier lends a floral touch, while the Graciano gives it a savory dried herb component. A new flavor is revealed at every sip. Hard to put down on it's own, but would be sublime with barbeque or ribs. Enjoy!
2018 Pollard "Estate" Yakima Valley Proprietary Red
Review Date: 05-26-2024
Explosive briary nose of mulberry, liquorice, mocha, cinnamon, clove, dried oregano, and black peppercorn. On the palate, juicy, wild dark berries, leather, and a spicy finish. Still fresh, with primary fruit, and savory herbs, even with six years of bottle age. A perfect pairing with a hamburger, or a cookout!
2020 Finca El Molar "Paraje el Galayo" Manchuela
Review Date: 05-19-2024
I am very excited to see more and more wines from Manchuela being imported to the U.S. I've always been a big fan Bobal, their flagship grape.
When I saw this unique blend of Graciano and Syrah, I was thrilled. Aromas of red berries, black plums, ripe figs, dried sage, freshly grounded coffee beans, potting soil, and leather. On the palate, juicy, fresh, and a spicy black pepper on the finish. A nice balance between fruit, earth, and rusticity. An awesome pairing with grilled meat!
Price:
Hidden
2021 Finca El Molar "Pet-Nat" Manchuela
Review Date: 05-19-2024
The first time I tried the obscure Spanish varietal 'Moravia Agria', my first thought was "This would make an awesome Pet-Nat". Judging by this bottling by the father and daughter team at Finca El Molar, it definitely does. 'Agria' means sour, and the grape's natural high acidity, sour red berry characters works nicely here. A refreshing, super crushable, juicy red strawberry bubbly, from one of my personal favorite D.O. Manchuela, situated between the Mediterranean climate of Valencia to the east, and the continental of Madrid to the west.
Price:
$15.99
2022 Kalinda Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 04-20-2024
I'm always excited to try our Kalinda bottlings, as they are always one of our best values in the store. Right on the nose, pretty aromas of dried hibiscus, bright red berries, hint of cedar, a touch of leather. On the palate, juicy raspberries, wild cherries, and delicate tannins on the persistent spicy finish. Quite lifted, with ample acidity that keeps it all in balance. A wine I kept revisiting, as it was very enjoyable, and never cloying. Cheers!
Top Value!
2020 Richard Bruno "Giacone Vineyard" Estrella District Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 03-04-2024
This is an easy-drinking style of Cabernet Sauvignon, with refreshing flavors of red plums, red cherries, mocha, cinnamon, savory dried herbs, sweet tobacco, cinnamon, with a spicy, fresh finish. The perfect bottle for your weeknight value drinker, or by the case for your next barbeque party!
Top Value!
Price:
$8.95
2019 Château de L'Ou "Grenache Rhapsody" Côtes Catalanes Rouge
Review Date: 02-15-2024
This 100% Grenache showcases a pretty nose of dusty cocoa, ripe blackberries, black plums, fresh blueberries, dark figs, a touch of black pepper, bacon fat, violets, and peony tea. On the palate, juicy, robust, with a long powerful finish. A compelling wine now, but also a great investment for the cellar, as it will gain even more complexity with time.
2021 Hendry "Estate - Barrel Fermented" Napa Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 11-29-2023
100% Estate fruit from this barrel fermented Chardonnay came from four blocks in vineyards right behind Hendry's winery. Aged on lees for 11 months in 1/3rd New French Oak with frequent bâtonnage (stirring by hand). Delicious flavors of Asian pear, yellow apples, quince, persimmon, fresh ginger, chamomile, peony tea, and almonds. On the palate, refreshing, delightfully textural, with a zesty finish. This is a perfect pairing with light poultry dishes, and salads!
2022 MacRostie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Review Date: 08-09-2023
Predominantly destemmed (15% whole cluster), and 30% new French Oak. Nose of fresh strawberries, raspberries, plum, cloves, cinnamon, and dried herbs. Fresh and juicy on the palate, with a nice spice through the refreshing finish. A solid bottle of Pinot Noir!
2021 Desire Lines "Winds of Change" California Syrah
Review Date: 07-06-2023
Beautiful notes of fresh cracked black pepper, crunchy red and black plums, bright raspberries, thyme, violets and hints of cocoa. Nice dusty tannins, lifted on the palate, with ample acidity lending a refreshing finish. This is not your heavy, concentrated, full throttle California Syrah, but rather a well balanced, delicate, invigorating, cooler climate expression.
Hidalgo "La Gitana" Manzanilla Sanlucar de Barrameda (500ml)
Review Date: 03-22-2023
Notes of lemon, green apple, candlewax, almonds, chamomile, saline, and brine.
Refreshing, well balanced, and very approachable. A perfect introduction to manzanilla.
2010 Larrivet Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
Review Date: 09-11-2022
When I was barely getting into wine, there was a lot of 2010's in the market, I was drinking lots of it. To me, this is a great example of that phenomenal vintage. Beautiful nose of plum, cassis, ripe black fruits, & minerality. On the palate, menthol, coffee, savory umami, and nutty notes. Well structured, mocha dust tannin, beautiful acidity, with a nice long finish.